Lumber-drying kiln



V."G. GILBREATH.

LUMBER -DRYING KlLN.

APPfucATioN FILED Nov.z,192o.

1,437,839. A mm me. 5, m2,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

2.5 2 292 29 9, 9v ZZ E? f l f /0 Z 26 25 20 28 222 f3 o o o o o o 0 Q o 79V o oo o o o Mmmm v. G. GxLBHEATH. LUMBER DRYiNG KILN.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2,1920.'

lengths with outlet nozzles, such as 282 and 291 the nozzles of the upper` pipes 282 are directed downwardly and those of the lower pipes 291 are directed upwardly. The .operation of the yinvention as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2is as follows:

Steam supplied through pipes 26 and 28 to the overhead line pipes 281 issues from the nozzles 282 in downwardly directions through passages 18 and 19 as denoted by darts ain Fig. 1 to inductively convey the drying medium from space 2() downwardly among the coil pipes 22 whereby it is heated and thereupon ascends through the interstices between the lumber in the respective loads 17 to the upper space 20. The courses taken by the drying medium with the u per system ot pipes are clearly indicate( by feathered arrows in Fig. 1.

Such circulation is continued for a predetermined time and is then reversed by rendering the upper system of pipes inoperative and employing the lower system of pipes as shown in Fig. 2. W hen this occurs steam issuing, as denoted by darts ZJ, 'from the lower nozzles 292 effects the circulation of thedrying medium upwardly through the passages 18 and 19 and downwardly through the lumber, as indicated by feathered arrows in Fig. 2. By thus reversing the currents alternately the material is dried more uniforlnly than would otherwise obtain.

The reversal of the currents is readily effected in the present embodimentv by regulating the valve 25. v

Considering/fthe invention as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4,. a single track with rails 141 is used to accommodate a car or truck 161 upon which is -placed a load of lumber substantially as shown to afford two piles 171 and 1'?2 of lumber with an intermediate space 181. This space serves asa passage for the upward or downward flow as the case may be of the drying medium and acts in cooperation with vthe wing passages 191 4and the spaces 201 and 2114 above and below the load to constitute circuitous channels for said. drying medium.

221 represents the steam heating coil pipes and 111 represents apipe for the discharge of surplus-Vapor from the kiln. With the lriln shown in Figs. 3 and l1, the drying medium is furnished and the circulation of the same is provided for by means of two pipe-systems which in the embodiment of the invention are both located below the load and are supplied by steam from a pipe 241 under the control of a regulating valve 251. More particularly, one of such pipe systems comprises line pipes 30 disposed longitudinally of the kiln under the respective passages 191 and are connected with said valve b v a leader 301.

rlie other of said pipe systems comprises e5 a longitudinally disposed line pipe 31 lfeathered arrows in the view.

located under the center of the car traclr` and is connected with the valve by a leader 311. rlhe line pipes 30 and 31 are moreover, provided with spaced nozzles 301 and 312 for the discharge of steam in concentrated streams upwardlythrough the respect-ive passages 191 and 181. For operation the two pipe systems above referred to are used successively 'for predetermined lengths of time to afford alternating currents of the drying medium in reverse up and down directions as will be understood from an inspection of Figs. 3 and L1.

In Fig. 3, for instance, the steam issuing as denoted by darts c from nozzles 302 ythrough passages 191 serve to impart motion -Ito the surrounding drying medium to cause the latter to take the courses indicated by `When the nozzles 312 are used as represented in Fig. 4,

the steam ascends as denoted .by darts d through the passage 181 resulting in circulatory currents being effected as indicated by feathered arrows in Fig. 4.

W'hat I claim, is,-

1. In a dry-kiln of the character described, in combination, a drying chamber wherein lumber is disposed in. piles which are arranged to afford a vertical passage between said piles and a vertical passage between the latter and each of the side walls of the chamber, a heating coil provided in the lowerf portion of said chamber and beneath each of said passages, two series of steam pipes withinthe chamber and having discharge .nozzles directed into the passages, and means whereby the steam may be discharged from the nozzles of oneor the other 'of said seriesof pipes selectively to efi'ect the circulation of the drying medium in reverse direction through said passages.

2. In a dry-kiln of the characterl described, in combination, a chamber having an opening in the lower portion thereof with the atmosphere exteriorly of the kiln, a heating coil provided within said chamber at a higher elevation than said o ening, cars A eac'h'adapted to have a pile of umber supported thereon, track rails for said cars, said rails being disposed to position the cars in such relations to each other that the lumber thereon will serve as partitions which divide the chamber to` provide therein a vertical passage between said piles and a vertical passage between each of said piles and the adjacent side walls of the chamber, two sets 'of steam pipes disposed longitudinally within the chamber andniedial of the respective passages, each of said pipes being provided with a. plurality of nozzles for discharging steam into the respective passages, and means to supply steam alteruatelv to each set of pipes whereby reversible cir'- culatory currents of the drying medium are aliorded alternately in all of the passages. 13e

3. A dry-kiln of the chqyacter described of pipes, and means included in the afore- A provided with an opening for the discharge said means whereby steam is discharged l5 'of surplus vapor from the bottom of the through the nozzles ofeach set of pipes Lkiln chamber, two sets 'of pipes disposed alternately to inductively impart downward i5 longitudinally Within the kiln sind respeeandv upward currents jto the drying medium i tively adjacent to the top and bottom of the within the kiln chamber. e

fsameg the pipes of eaqh such set being ar- Signed at Seattle VV-ashington, this 22nd 20- ranged ii'il'coreslponldingly slpaced vrelntions day of October 1920. i transverse y o -t e dln, out et nozz es rov m vvidedet4 intervals in each of said pipes,pthe VICTOR GILBREATH' nozzles of the upper and lower pipes being Witnesses: M

respectively directed downwardly and up- PIERRE BARNES,v wrdly, means to supply :steam to both vsets MARGARET G. SUPPLE. 

